Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Why our "brother" (1 John 4:21) is entitled to such love, namely, because he is 'begotten of God:' so, if we want to show love to God, we must show it to... [ Continue Reading ]
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. BY - `IN this.' As love to the brethren is the test of our love to God, so love to God (tested by 'keeping His commandments') is, conversely, the only basis of real love to our brother. WE KNOW. John... [ Continue Reading ]
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. THIS IS - the love of God consists in this. NOT GRIEVOUS - as many think them. It is 'the way of the transgressor' that "is hard" (). What makes them to the regenerate "not grievous" is faith ().... [ Continue Reading ]
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. FOR - (note, 1 John 5:3.) Reason why "His commandments are not grievous." Though there is a conflict in keeping them, the issue for all and each of the regenerate is victory over... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? WHO - else, "but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God:" "the Christ" ()? Confirming, by a question defying contradiction, , that the victory which overcomes the world is faith (Romans 8:33). For it... [ Continue Reading ]
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. THIS - the Person mentioned, 1 John 5:5: Jesus. HE THAT CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD - "by water," when His ministry was inau... [ Continue Reading ]
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. THREE. Two or three witnesses were required by law to constitute adequate testimony. The only Greek manuscripts, in any form, which support the words, "in heaven, the Father, the Wor... [ Continue Reading ]
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. AGREE IN ONE, [ eis (G1519) to (G3588) hen (G1520) eisin (G1526)] - 'tend unto one result:' their agreeing testimony to Jesus' Sonship and Messiahship they give by the sacrament... [ Continue Reading ]
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. IF ... We do accept (and rightly) the witness of veracious men, fallible though they be; much more ought we to accept the infallible witness of God (the Father). 'T... [ Continue Reading ]
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. HATH THE WITNESS - of God; which [ Theou (G2316)] A, Vulgate, have; but 'Aleph (') B omit; by His Spirit (1 John 5:8). I... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. HATH GIVEN - aorist, 'gave,' once for all. Not only 'promised' it. LIFE IS IN HIS SON - essentially (; ; ); bodily (); operatively () (Lange). It is in the second Adam, the Son of God, that this life i... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. THE SON HATH LIFE - `THE life.' Bengel, The verse has two clauses: in the former the Son is mentioned without "of God," for believers know the Son; in the second, the addition "of God" is made, that unbelievers ma... [ Continue Reading ]
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. THESE THINGS - this letter. He, in closing his gospel (John 20:30), wrote similarly, stating his purpose in having wr... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: THE CONFIDENCE, [ parreesia (G3954)] - "boldness" (1 John 4:17) in prayer, f... [ Continue Reading ]
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. HEAR - `that He heareth us.' WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRED OF HIM - as present possessions, each thing whatsoever we ask from Him. Not one of our past prayers offered in faith,... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. IF ANY MAN SEE - on any particular occasion [ ide (G2396), aorist]. HIS BROTHER - a fellow... [ Continue Reading ]
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. Every "unrighteousness (even that of believers, cf. 1 John 1:9; 1 John 3:4: coming short of right) is sin;" (but) not every sin is that unto death. THERE IS A SIN NOT UNTO DEATH - in the case of which believers may intercede. Death a... [ Continue Reading ]
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (See 1 John 3:9.) WE KNOW. Thrice repeated (1 John 5:19), to enforce the three truths which the words preface, as matters of the brethren's joint experimental... [ Continue Reading ]
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS, [ en (G1722) too (G3588) poneeroo (G4190)] - rather, 'lieth in the wicked one,' as 1 John 5:18; 1 John 2:13: cf. 1 John 4:4; John 17:14; John 1:1:e., in the power of, and abiding in, the wicked one... [ Continue Reading ]
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Summary of our Christian privileges. IS COME, [ heekei (G2240)] - is present, hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Affectionate parting caution. FROM IDOLS - Christians were everywhere surrounded by idolaters with whom it was impossible to avoid some contact. Hence, the need of being on their guard against an indirect compromise or communion with idolatry. Some at Pergamos, in the region whence John wrote, fel... [ Continue Reading ]